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Rangers agree to Minor League deal with Lowe

10/13/12: Derek Lowe comes in from the bullpen and strikes out Miguel Cabrera to end the seventh inning

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers have signed veteran pitcher Derek Lowe to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Wednesday. Lowe, who is expected to fly to Arizona on Thursday, comes to camp primarily as a candidate for the bullpen.

The 39-year-old agreed to a salary of $1.25 million plus incentives if he makes the team.

Lowe has made 377 starts and 295 relief appearances during his 16-year Major League career.

"Derek Lowe has a longtime track record in a variety of different roles," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's had some success last year in the bullpen, and if he throws like that again, he should be able to help us."

Lowe was a closer early in his career for the Red Sox before becoming a starter. He had 81 saves for Boston from 1999-2001 before becoming a starter in 2002. From 2002-11, he made 334 starts in a 10-year period and was 145-114 with a 4.02 ERA.

Last year, he was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA in 21 starts for the Indians. He was released by the Indians on Aug. 12 and immediately signed by the Yankees. They put him in the bullpen, and he went 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 17 relief appearances.

"We'll have to see where he is," Daniels said. "He has been throwing, but I don't know if we'll have time to get him stretched out as a starter, but he should at some point be ready to throw multiple innings. Our interest is primarily as a reliever, but his versatility is valuable. He can do both."

Lowe will likely throw a bullpen session for the Rangers on Friday and then need at least a couple of live batting-practice sessions before pitching in a game.